Headlight.



H. W. LEONARD. DECD C- G- LEONARD, ADMINISTRATIHX- uuoucnr.

. APPUCAHON FILE MAR. 23. I914- 1.263,080. Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

3 SHEET5-SHEET I.

H. W. LEONARD, DECD.

c. a. LEONARD. mmmsnurmx.

HEADLIGHT.

Arrugnlou mw mmza. 1914 1,263,080. Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 b Fig- 80 wi/lmmao a. w. LEONARD. 0500. C- G- LEONARD. ADMINiSTRATRIX.

HEADLIGHT.

APPUCATION FILED MAR. 23, I914 Patented Apr. 16, 1918 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- 5 nve wlfoz motor car.

posite direction and upon dangerous and- .some instances be mpirlous to the eye-sight 'a't Bronxville. in the ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

HARRY WARD LEONARD, OF BRONXVILLE. NEw YoRKr CAROLYN G. LEONARD, ADMIN- IS'I'HATRIX OF SAID HARRY LEONARD, INCORPORATED, A

WARD LEONARD. DECEASED, CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ASSIGNOR TO H. WARD HEADLIGHT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY WARD Lnox- Altl), fl citizen of the United States, residing county of New York and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Headlights, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to methods and means for the control of lights,-'and is applicable to head-lights on motor cars, street cars. iuterurban cars. locomotives, boats, and

In various oher' ins ances.

The principal object of my invention is to provide means'for'the control of lights of th s character whereby under certain conditions the full brilliancy and penetrating character of the light may be used and under other conditions" the light may be reduced in its dazzling andpenetrating effort, and yet be available to give a difi'used,

softened character of light, th'us obtaining a light which is eflicient. unobjectionable and economical under different conditions of practice, and to accomplish this result by the provision of simple, compact and conveniently operated means.

In theheaddights used upon motor cars, for example. there are customarily provided polished reflectors of, approximately parabolic form with an incandescent lamp or its equivalent, so placed that the light or filament isafor near the focus of the parabola, Such lamps give a, powerful beam of light: for illuminating the road ahead of the This powerful beam of light has a dazzling effect upon drivers of vehicles coming toward the motor car from th-eoppeople and animals which the ear is approaching. The blinding: effect of such a'dazzling light is objectionable, and may in of persons subjected to it. This powerful beam of light, however, is desirable and'effoctivo for, ahead under ordinary conditions.

over, it is not satisfactorilyeffective ing around curves, or in going over 'How- III 0- an o- Specification of Letters Patent, Patented v Appl'loation filed March 23, 1914. Serial No. 826,579.

not suflicient diffusion of. light at.

' is greatly increase illumiating' the empty road Apr. 1e,19 1s-.

lations in the road-surface, because'thereis.

wide angle near the car. 7 The powerful beam of light is not satisfactorily effective under variousother conditions such as when the car is passing through fog, snow, rain, or smoke, or when the front glass of the headlight becomes coated with snow, or drops of water in storms.

In order to overcome these difliculties, it is desirable that the operator of the car be enabled to quickly and conveniently change the character of the light and adapt it to suit the varying conditions as they arise without the necessityof stopping the car. For example, if two motor ears are ap-v proaching each other, it is desirable that the powerful light be modified so as to be nondazzling to the operators of the cars when about to pass each other, and also so that the road in the vicinity of. the two: cars shall be well illuminated} Various other conditions arise where it is desirable to quickly and conveniently changethe character of the light to the most advantageous for the pa rtieular circumstances. The above statements a ply substantially to other applications of my invention than to motor cars, such as' street: cars, locomotives, boats in" vehicles.

li lanv municipalities and other legislative interurban cars, aeroplanes and other mov mg or regulating the use of the ordinary head-light on account of the annoyance, confusion and danger which these powerful lights cause. Although the non-use of these powerful lightstends to reduce the risk-to other users of the high-way, the risk to the car and to its oceu ants with no head-light because the usual small lamps do not sufficiently light the high-way to enable the driver to drive with ade uate safety; It: is also sometimes desirab e to enable the operator to. operate warning lights at the head of the car when the car is'standmg still or moving slowly.

:My invention" overcomes all the above stated difliculties and accomplishes the de results; pale s'u'able results above mentioned as well as having other advantages. This result is also obtained by low additional first cost. small weight. small space, small consumptionof energy and is adapted to be conveniently installed uponexisting forms of head-lights.

One cmbodimenoot my in ntion is illustrated in the accompanying drawings'whcrein Figure 1 is a front View of a head-light with the parts in position to permit the light to have its full power; Fig. 2 is a similar. view with the parts in position to reduce and diffuse the light; Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of a head-light, the sectiorr being to one side of a central section; Fig. 4 is a front view showing the controlling mechanism, some parts not being shown for simplicity; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the controllin mechanism; Fig. 6 is a detail sectional \iQW; Fig. 7 is a diagram of connections; Fig. 8 is a plan view of a lamp with the outside casing removed showing a niorlified form of'eontrolling mechamsn; and Fig. 9 is a similar view showing adifferent position of the parts.

The front glass of a head-light is indicated at 1 and an outside casing of the headlight is shown at 2. The lamp is shown as an incandescent lamp 3 having its filament at or nearthe focus of a parabolic reflector 4 but it is of course understood that the reflector andlamp may be of other suitable forms. \Vithin the lamp frame and in front of a lamp, I place suitable material in sheet form so arranged as to form no obstruction to the light in one position and to be movable to form a'sercen in front of the lamp so that practically all of the light has to ass through the sheet material and thus reduce its power and diffuse thelight to give a encral illumination without any dazzlintg e ect. In accomplishing this result, I pre erably use four sections of the sheet material, two cooperating to make a half, disk and the other two cooperating to makelthc other half disk; but the number of sections may be as desired to suit particular conditions according to the preference of the. clesigner.

I prefer to use sheet =material similar to celluloid, but may use cloth, paper, mica,

glass, or any other form of suitable material,

and there may be instances in which the material ,will not bein sheet form. I prefer tohavc the sections made of colored mate rial. andhave found that an amber colored material of celluloid, or the like, gives good reen is also desirable. In some cases, di 'ercnt colors may be used in the different lamps and sometimes the sections may be of different colors. .For 0btainingtheidesired softening and diffusion of the lightand to reduce the dazzling eilect,

I prefer have the surface. of the sheets finished so as to re emble the surface of ground glass. Objects seen through such a translucent medium will be blurred and a parallel beam of light 'when forced to-pass through such a inedium will be very much dilfnsed and softened so that itwill not be dazzling to the eyes of a person looking through it at a powerful light.

\Vhile many dilf'erent forms of construction may be employed, I prefer to provide within the lamp frame and in front of and on each side of the lamp supports adapted to carry two sections. Thus in the drawings. the reflector 4 is shown as perforated for purposeof forming a'hearing and support for parts which in turn carry the. sections of sheet material. Extending through perforations in the upperpa'rt ot' the reflector are shown parts 5 in tubular form from each of which a curved support or rib 6 extends, which embraces, or to which is fastened a section 7 of sheet material, which extends from the Vertical pivotal support toward the side of, the reflector. The lower end of each rib 6 is shown connected with a tubular part 8. Each of the tubular parts 5 forms a support and bearing for a rod 9, which rod extends downwardly through the tubular parts 8 and through a perforation in the lower part of the 're- Hector, which thus serves as a support and bearing for rods 9. Connected with each of the rods 9 are shown horizontally extending ribs 10, which embrace orrhave attached thereto sections'll of sheet material, which extend from the supports to the middle of the reflector when in closed position. The

verticalaxis and 90" from the positions as 1 shown in Figs. 2 and ;i, the sections will assume positions in vertical planes parallel with the rays of light of the reflector as shown in Fig. 1, and similarly when the sup ports for the sheet sections 11 are turned 90 upon the vertical axis they will be thrmvn'from the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4h) that shown in Fig. 1 parallel with the rays from the reflector. In the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the. .:-;hcet sections form adisk substantially preventing the emission of all'ligrht' from the lamp, except that which is forced to pass through the sections, whereas in the position shown in' Fig.

1 the sections are in vertical [)lHl'tLS parallel with the beam of light from the reflector and offer nosubstantial olistruction to such In i ' or aeoomplishing themovement of the stance as being located between the upper ings' and connected to a .each end of each cross "connected links 17.-

V lation'of the extensions 18 when the sections are in the a tion by shocks or jars.-

casing 2,

- 1n tlilS 'gosition by four sections so asto have them at one time across the beam of light and at another time parallel to the beam, I preferably use an electromagnet, the movable armature of which is so mechanically related to the sections that when one winding or a part of the winding is energized all of he sections will be moved to their edgewise position. The winding causing the movement may then be deia'nergized and the sections held in edgewise position by spring action, thusrequlring no further consumption of electric energy a fter the movementhas taken place.

to, move the sections in beam of light, another winding oranother portion of the winding of the magnet will be energized to cause movement of then ature so as to rotate the sections 90 whe ii ibe winding may then be decnergized and the sections will be held in the new position by spring action. Referring to the drawings, a controlling magnet is shown at 12 having two windings 13, 13'. A singlecore for the two windings is shown at 14 and is adapted to be moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 when the winding 13 is enc'r ized and to be moved .a short distance to tge right of the position indicated] when the winding 13' is energized. The magnet is shown in this in- When it is desired position across the reflector land the outside and approximately midwa between the vertical axes about whic the sheet sections turn. Tojeach end of their-on core 14 issecured a rod or strip 15,,the outer end of which is bent as shown in thedr'awcross piece 16. At piece are pivotally he remaining end of one link17 is pivotally connected to an extension 18 from the tubular part 6 and the remaining end of the other link l'lis similarlyconnected to an extension 19 from the rod 9. Between the ends of the links to which the extensions 18 and 19'are connector between theextensions 18 and 19 is located a sprin 20, which tends to draw the ends of the lib and also the extensions 18 and 19 toward each other. The angular reand 19 to theare such that closed position as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the tension of the springs 20-serves to maintain the sections constant spring tension the sections a ainst the reflector, ed stops if desired, of vibration closed posiportion of the planes of the sheet sections {and he] H amp or specm y prov1 and thus prevent any tendency or of being thrown out of their If the winding '13" be energizedythe armatu-re 14 will; be shifted from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the right afiinst the ten eion of the springs 901m a movement 1 approximately 90 so that energize one or the electric one .venlent to the operator,

the inner ends of the links 17 will be moved outwardly to some extent until the springs have been carried over the vertical axis of the supports for the sheet then move inwardly too new position. In this movement the extensions 18, 19nd the sheet sections will be moved through an angle of in the new position the sheet sections will be brought to the open position andthe springs 20 then serve to hold the sections against each other in this position, which prevents any vibration of the parts or any tendency to be thrown from this position by shocks or Jars.

It is obvious that the sheet sections wi 1 be readily shifted from the closed osition to the open .osition b momentari y energizing one o the \vindlngs'of the magnet and that the reverse movement is accomplished by momentarily cnel-gizin r the other windings of the magnet, and that in each of the final positions the sheet sections will be held firmly by spring action without any necessity of continuing the excitation of either of the controlling windings.

I preferably energize these magnets from the storage battery or other source of electric energy'used to supply the lamps in the head-lights, but in some instances'it may be desirable to use a different source; For controllin the cnergization of the windings I prefera ly employ a two-way spring actuatedswitch normally biased to open position and closa'ble by the other of the controlling windings.

.Adiagram of connections is shown in Fig. 7 wherein the head-light lamps are shown at 3, one oneach 'sideof the car, and the con trolling windings for controlling the movement of the sheet sections in each lamp are indicated at 13, 13'.- Astorage battery "21 is shown in this instance as the source of for the lamps 3-as well as for the controlling windings. Upon a dash board 22 ofthecar, or

is mounted aswit'ch 23 for connecting the head lights in parallel witheach other to the battery 21 and there is also mounted a two-way sWitch-24,- having springs 25 tending to hold the switch normally in open circuit position. By'pressing one end of the switch 24 a circuit is atany location CQl'b sections and will operator to temporarily closed from oneterminal of the battery 7 through. the switch and ings 13 back to theother. tery.) When the switch 24 is its opposite end, the circuit is through the 'winddepressed at terminal of the but-.

closed from the terminal of the battery. through the switch and throu hfthe' controllin ings 18' back to t e other. termina o ,the battery. It is obvious that by mome arily closingthe switch 24 to energize ei erjthe windings. 18 or 13' as desired,the'shee't sec tionsw l] be'shifted toeither b winda motion trolling means'in this a frame 26, an extension mounting as closed positions and will he held in either of these )OSltlOllS by spring action after the release 0 the switch 24. t

It is obvious thatvarions modifications of the electromagiwtie controlling means above disclosed maybe nsed'u'ithout ing from the scope of my im'ention. and that in some instances the sections may he moved directly by hand or by cords, wires, or rods conveniently located for manipulation by the operator from the seat of the car: also the control may be accomplished by pneumatic or hydraulic means or a spring motor may be used to shift the mo 'ahle .sections. the operation of the spring motor being controlled by any well known means seat.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a modified form of construction of controlling means for moving the section's of sheet material. the concase bein l'nanually operated. The figures show a p an view of the controlling means, the outer casing of the lamp being removed, and the parts corresponding to those already described are similarly numbered. The front part. of the reflector is shown at 4, and the sections of sheet material 7 and 11 are indicated in dotted lines, being the same in construction and already described. The extenfrom the supports of the sheet in this modified form are. to a yielda'ble wire 27- from which is connected to one end of a spring 28. One end of the spring is'connected to a bracket 29 fixed to the outside of the reflector 4. At the opposite end of the spring is connected :1 flexible cord,chain-ors aft, 30, which passes through a protecting?\ and supporting tube 31 to a handle 32, w ich may be located at any point convenient to the operator, at or near the dash-board of the car, or at the side of the seat, or'any other convenient. point. In the position shown in Fig. 8, the sheet sections are shown in closed position and are so held by the tension of the spring 28 and {ieldltble extensions of the wire frame 26. Vhen it is sions 18, 19' sections 7 and 11 pivotally connected desired to place the sheet sectionsgin open position the operator pulls open the handle 32 against the tension of the spring 28, which re ults in turning the extensions 18 and 19 and the sheet sections throughcan angleof 90, bringing the latter to the open position as shown in Fig. 9, the yielclable extensions of the wire frame 26 tending to hold the sheet sections in open position. The handle maybe held in this position by a hook, latch, or other convenient means'se as to maintain thesheet sections in ogpn position nntilthe handle is released,

w an the spring Fig '8. When the element-30 is sntl'icimtly from the drivers .sai'd reflector and -to turn said sections more .or transverse 28 will then'throu the sheet sections to the closed position as shown in rigid, the spring 28 is unnecessary as the element 30 may then be pushed to move the sheet sections to closed positions.

In addition to the application of my in: veution to head-lights, there are various other applications such as to lamps used for advertising purposes. stage illumination, hotography. illumination of rooms. and for signals and the like.

It will henndcrstood that many modifications may e made in all ofthe various features of my invention without departing! fr m the scope thereof.

llarinp thu described my iuveutiou,\\'lu\t I declare a- -new and desire to secure ters Patent of'tl'ie lnited States is:-

1. in a luuid-light; a parabolic reflector. a lamp within aid relleetor. a plurnlityto section of light ditiusing sheet -m-.tteiitial al o within said retlertorin front of said lamp. pivot shafts carrying said sections and extending through the reflector wall. means outside said wall to actuate said shafts audturn the sections more or less edgeuiw or truusver-e to the beam of light and automatic means to hold said-sections in any one of a limited number of definite positionsr t I i g 2. In a head-light. a uara'bolic reflector, an outside casing around the reflector and spaced therefrom. a lamp within said reflector. sections ot'light diti'usingsheet material in front of saidlamp and also within means loeatedbetweeu the relleetor wall and the outside casing adapted to turn said sections more or lesscdgewise or transver e- [o the beam of light. 3. In a head-light. a parabolic reflector an, outside (using around the reflector an spaced therefrom. a lamp within said retiector. sections of light ditfusing sheet Inaterial in front of said lamp and also'within said reflector. menus located betweeutlie re-' tier-tor waltand the outside casing adapted or less edgewise to the beam of light and to hold said sections in any one of a limited number of dctiuitepositions. y

l. ]n ahead-light, a parabolic reflector, a lamp within said reflector. a wall of transpareut material across the front of saidrellertol'. a plurality 01 sections of light tlillusing sheet.- material between the said lamp and the said front wall. tat-lied to saidfsectious at respective edges lhereol and means to suing the said sec-. tions on said shafts to an edgou'ise position in pairs relatively to the beam of light, or apart transversely to said beam.

5. In a head-light. a parabolic reflector, a lam -within said rellectdt; a transverse -haft. uit-hin-saitl reflector on'eaeh side of the axis of the reflector,sections of light difi'using sheet material attachedat their by Letparallel shafts atrespective edges to these shafts, said sections lying normally edgewise to the beam of light and directed away from the lamp, and means under the control of an operator for turning said sections about said shafts so as to bring their distal edges to meet across the axis of the reflector.

(i. In a head-light, a parabolic reflector, a lamp within aid reflector, pair of closely adjacent shafts across the reflector on each side of its axis, a section of light dill'using sheet, material attached by an edge thereof to each such shaft, said sections comprising the segments of a circular disk and being normally directed away from the lamp edgewise to the beam of light and means to turn the two shafts of each pair simultaneously in opposite directions and. thereby turn the sections across the reflector so that the segments of the circular disk will form a substantially complete closure across the parabolic reflector.

7. in a head-light, a parabolic reflector a lamp within said reflector, a plurality 0 parallel shafts across said reflector in front of said lamp, said shafts being arranged in pairs, those of a pair close together, sections of light difl'using sheet material with their respective edges supported by said shafts and normally directed edgewise to the beam of light away from said lamp and means to turn said shafts simultaneously in altcrnatcly opposite directions so as to swing the sections of each air away from each otherand in a position transverse to the beam of light.

8. In a head-light, a parabolic reflector an outside casing around the reflector spaced therefrom, a lamp within said reflector, sections of light diffusing sheet material in front of said lamp and also within said reflector, shafts carrying said sections and extending through the reflector wall, and electromagnetic means located between the reflector wall and the outside casing adapted to act on said shafts.

9. In a headlight, :1 parabolic reflector, an outside casing around the reflector spaced therefrom, a lamp within said reflector, sections of light dillusing sheet material in front of said lamp and also within said reflector, shafts carrying said sections and extending through the reflector wall, electromagnetic means located between the re flector wall and the outside casing adapted to act on said shafts and automatic means in the same location to hold said sections in either the edgewise or transverse positions.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY \VARD LEONARD. Witnesses:

Llcoxam) KnnLan, (lumm'a G. LI-ZONARD. 

